Chicago White Sox has worst bullpen ERA in MLB

Apr 12, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox relief pitcher Ronald Belisario (54) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at U.S Cellular Field. Cleveland won 12-6. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Following 16 games this season, there are already big issues with the Chicago White Sox bullpen, as they have the worst ERA in all of baseball at 6.48.

Read that again … the White Sox bullpen has an ERA of 6.48.

Yes, it really says they have a 6.48 ERA in 16 games.

The bullpen has a 3-6 record in 50 innings pitched.

Good grief, Charlie Brown. (To think of it, is Charlie Brown available to pitch in this bullpen?)

Chicago’s bullpen has allowed 51 hits and 38 runs (36 earned) with 33 walks. Opponents are hitting .273 off their bullpen, with a WHIP of 1.82.

Two White Sox relievers have ERA’s above 10.00. (I’m not counting Leury Garcia‘s relief appearance as he’s normally a reserve infielder.)

In eight appearances, Ronald Belisario has an ERA of 12.91 in 7.2 innings pitched. He’s allowed 11 earned runs on 13 hits (one home run) and has walked four. Batters have an average of .394 against him.

Apr 4, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Chicago White Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson (31) talks with relief pitcher Scott Downs (37) in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals won 7-5. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Downs hasn’t been much better, with a 10.80 ERA in eight appearances as well. He’s pitched just 3.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits and five walks.

Donnie Veal (who was designated for assignment on Thursday) had a 7.50 ERA with five earned runs on six hits and seven walks.

Then there is the “closer” Matt Lindstrom, who in six games had an ERA of 3.86 with just one save. He has blown three saves. Lindstrom has pitched 7.0 innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and two walks.

Numbers like that, and I believe the White Sox are lucky to be 8-8 right now.

Two of the positives have been Maikel Cleto and Daniel Webb. Cleto in seven appearances (6.2 IP) has a 1.35 ERA. He’s allowed one earned run on two hits but has walked seven. Webb has a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 IP. He has given up three earned runs on six hits and five walks.

I’m not really going into much detail on Nate Jones (who is on the DL) and Jake Petricka, though they have walked a combined eight players.

Combined the White Sox have 40 walks with their relievers, eight ahead of second-place Arizona Diamondbacks at 32 walks.

Those walks really have to be trimmed down by the bullpen, and if they don’t, well, it won’t matter how many runs the offense can put up … the bullpen will be too unreliable to look upon in the late innings. If things continue to get worse after the series with the Rangers, don’t be surprised to see some more changes come.

At least that is what I would do.

I guess the best way to say it is this bullpen intimidates nobody when they take the field.

Am I wrong?

What are your thoughts?

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